Thread Legends: Hosts & Broadcasters

These Style Secrets Explain Why Some Men Have Their Own Shows While Others Have Bit Parts

This article is presented by Ryan Seacrest Distinction, available at Macy's.

Broadcasters are often the bearer of bad news. When something big happens in the world, oftentimes they're the first voice to break it to us. On the other hand, hosts serve to entertain us, and together these two roles have become an essential part of our day, whether we realize it or not. Some of these voices have become legendary over time, and so has what they wore while on our screens. In this edition of Thread Legends, we look at the style behind the voices of some of the world's most famous hosts and broadcasters.

Conan O'Brien

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In an interview with Martha Stewart, Conan described his love for man jeggings. That fashion faux pas aside, the late night host has stuck to his own style during his wild and successful ride. Conan chooses to express his personal fashion sense with ties that always feature some sort of pattern, just like this valley stripe slim tie from Ryan Seacrest Distinction.

Johnny Carson

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The late, great John William Carson ran late night television for three solid decades as the host of The Tonight Show. During that time period he wore a myriad of styles, ranging from trendy cool to traditional classic. In the '70s, when fashion was at its funkiest, Carson pushed the limits of late night as only he could and you can bring that style back with this tan solid jacket.

Ryan Seacrest

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Ideally, Ryan Seacrest would look great in anything from his collection…after all, it is his collection. Seacrest is as comfortable in a checkered plaid shirt as he is in a tailored suit. However, he looks the most dapper when he’s hosting in a tuxedo jacket like this Black Shawl Collar slim-fit piece from, yup you guessed it, Ryan Seacrest Distinction.

Arsenio Hall

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When the Arsenio Hall show debuted in 1989 it forever changed what late night talk looked like in America. Hall’s cutting edge style of dress got him on just as many "best dressed" lists as it did "worst dressed" lists. He’d just as soon wear a tailored suit (with shoulder pads of course) as he would a lightweight moto jacket — we're pretty sure you can pull both of them off too.

Jimmy Kimmel

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The Jimmy Kimmel Live host’s wardrobe is always up to date but never trendy. Nothing he wears is so outlandish that the average viewer couldn’t pull of a similar look. Slim-fit suits in classic blue, — like this glen blue plaid jacket from Ryan Seacrest Distinction — black or gray are par for the course, coupled with a simply patterned or solid tie.

Stuart Scott

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The legendary Stuart Scott revolutionized sports reporting with colorful language, passion and knowledge of the game(s). He was no slouch in the style department either. Scott regularly wore exciting shirt, tie and blazer combinations that somehow always flowed. You can replicate his on-camera look with this Macy's exclusive slim-fit black and white glen plaid vested suit, but you probably can't pull off those signature frames.

Jimmy Fallon

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Jimmy Fallon has put his stamp on the preeminent late night talk show in many ways. However, his stylist has kept with tradition by outfitting with with the suit and tie combinations that he wears nightly. Narrow ties, narrow lapels and a slim fit are the style guidelines for the Tonight Show host, which you can follow by donning this navy slim-fit suit.

Roland S. Martin

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Former CNN reporter Roland S. Martin hosts News One Now, a daily news show on TV One. Never one to bite his tongue, Martin — who often comically takes digs at inappropriately dressed guests of his show — is equally as daring with his on-air style. Martin’s fashion claim to fame is his penchant for mixing ascots with traditional garb, which you can do too with this black and white glen plaid jacket from Ryan Seacrest Distinction.

Peter Jennings

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As one of the most decorated news people of the last 50 years, Peter Jennings was present for many of the moments that shaped world history. Whether acting as a correspondent in Beirut or manning the desk for 20 years for ABC Nightly News, Jennings was an example of the man making the clothes and not the other way around. You can look just as sharp as the legend himself in this blue and gray plaid slim-fit jacket.

Terrence Jenkins

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Terrence Jenkins, better known as Terrence J, is the young gun on this list. He began his career as the co-host of popular video countdown show 106 & Park. Now E! TV viewers can spot Jenkins, wearing a variety of trendy slim-fit jackets, sweaters (not unlike this crew-neck from Ryan Seacrest Distinction) and trousers as the co-anchor of the E! News show.

Andy Cohen

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Unless you’ve been forced to watch Bravo with your significant other, then you’re probably not familiar with the Watch What Happens Live host. As executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise and host of a nightly after show, Cohen is the lifeblood of Bravo’s reality shows, bringing humorous and often snarky talk and a trendy but killer wardrobe, which you can totally rip off by picking up this slim-fit blue pindot jacket.

Walter Cronkite

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For nearly three decades, Walter Cronkite was the voice of news in America. There were others that came and went, but the CBS Evening News was the litmus test for television news during his era. Cronkite anchored the news donned in what was popular at the time: jackets with broad lapels, wide ties with a splash of color from time to time, and an occasional pocket square. Add some accessories to this slim-fit jacket from Ryan Seacrest Distinction and bring it to life for your next formal event.

Charlie Rose

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The longtime PBS TV journalist has interviewed everyone who is anyone since starting his self-titled show in 1991. Rose’s pull-no-punches interview style is in line with his style of dress. Some would call his penchant for solid color suits and `s basic, but we call it classic, just like this textured shawl lapel tuxedo jacket.

Brian Williams

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Williams’s reputation took a hit earlier this year when news of his on-air embellishments became public knowledge. The ex-NBC Nightly News anchor has since resurfaced as the breaking news go-to guy for MSNBC. Williams’s duties are different, but his style remains intact with tailored solid suits and a printed tie — this star paisley slim tie from Ryan Seacrest Distinction tie will definitely do the trick — or two to add a little spice.

Lester Holt

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Williams' Nightly News replacement Lester Holt has excelled since taking over the anchor position on NBC’s flagship news program. When it comes to style, Holt — a Bay Area native — is not your typical news anchor in that he likes to push the envelope a bit. He enjoys mixing trendy patterns and fabrics with traditional pieces. Give it a shot by mixing and matching with this gray stripe vested slim-fit suit from Ryan Seacrest Distinction.

Bob Schieffer

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Bob Schieffer put in 50 years of service to the news industry. He spent 46 of those as a reporter or anchor for CBS News. Schieffer, who most recently hosted Face The Nation, retired earlier this year. Throughout his career, Schieffer rarely veered away from his trusty dark colored suits, but he did like to spice it up with a colored tie. You should — pardon the pun — follow suit with this red attraction bar stripe slim tie matched with a dark colored suit.

Jack Paar

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When Paar jumped ship from TV news to host The Tonight Show, he ushered in a new era for late night hosts. His irreverent approach to the post helped gain the show its highest ratings at the time. Parr had his own style that included a variety of bowties, which set the precedent that was followed by Carson and all that came after him to find their own distinct style.

Matt Lauer

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America has gotten to know Matt Lauer on a daily basis since the current Today co-host joined the show over two decades ago. Matt’s likable personality has endeared him to millions, while his risky clothing choices have landed him on a few best-dressed lists. His variety of sport coats paired with spread collars and elegant ties make him one of the best-dressed morning show hosts of this generation, but the one constant is the white dress shirt.

Anderson Cooper

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The host of CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360 prefers a serious newsman wardrobe when on the air. Cooper is almost always reporting the news wearing a dark-colored suit, pristine white button down dress shirt and a solid color tie. He very rarely veers off the path of traditional business attire…and that works well for him.

Edward R. Murrow

Murrow was famous before television was invented. His radio reporting during World War II was legendary. When he converted to television in the '50s, Murrow was a lightening rod of controversy, exposing corruption at every turn. The pioneering newsman wore lots of pinstripe suits with broad lapels, wide ties and solid color shirts, which were all popular during that area. Do pinstripes right with this black striped jacket from Ryan Seacrest Distinction.